Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-09-23

cred up everything in his reach and
stretched out his hand for the gray
shawl, neatly strapped, as he remem-
bered it year before, and though The
owner attempted protest, he made no
reply, but took it with the rest. Nav
and Effie declared him q petrified bear.
but Grace persisted in taking his part
assuring them that he was broken.
hearted when he thought of not being
able to marry all of them, and called
on Miss Carlton for proof.
"Miss Bessie, isn't that the reason ?
He is SO selfish that the thought of
anybody else getting one of us makes
him miserable" But before she could
say one word Jack blurted out, with
his gaze on the face before him:
"Thats the very reason"
We'll, Jack, retorted Effe, "if you
could have us all what would you do
about our traps You made fuss
enough last year, and now YOU want
four women to look after"
"But I don't. I only want one of
you, and her traps won't worry me, 1
promise you." And he significantly
lifted the gray shawl, and, laying it
across his knee, seemed to be intent
on smoothing the wrinkles and creases
from it's folds.
The girls looked at each other and
then at Miss Carlton, and last but
longest at Jack. He was an enigma.
The tables seemed turned, and he
alone of the party was composed, the
girls being all curiosity, and their
companion nervous and restless.
But the conversation drifted off to
other channels. and soon they were
deep in discussion of the merits of
their respective photographs. Jack
quietly took one of each; but looked
up in Miss Cartoons face and said:
"May II"
She laughingly replied:
II hardly know. It is the only one
I have, and it is promised; but
1 will have some more soon. I
promised it to my uncle in
exchange for his. which I wear in my
locket. By the by, girls, would you
believe he could have changed so
much in three years? I should hardly
have known him when he came to the
school to see me had I not been ex-
pecting him. He was so deeply in love
with all of you that I suppose I shall
have to call you all aunties. He made
me promise when he gave me my
locket and my ring that [ would give
him a good picture; but, never salts
fed with any that have been taken of
me, I have never done so. But there
is good artist, brother tells me, at
home"
Jack leaned across the way and said,
with fun and earnestness strangely
blended, "May I carry your traps the
rest of my life?" The girls tried to
look unconscious, but it was useless.
It was too ludicrous, and peal after
peal of hearty laughter rung out on the
air, and made spiteful old maid, sit
ting few seats away, say Grossly, "a
lot of schoolgirls, who don't know how
to behave, making fun of their betters."
But after awhile Jack changed places
with Effie, and when they were all
worn and tired out, with tho author
ity and right that seemed but
natural, he quietly unstrapped the
gray shawl and wrapped it about the
little woman, who leaned close to him
and let him fix her head comfortably
near his shoulder. She seemed to have
lost her old, Independent ways, and let
Jack wait upon her. as if he had never
declared che ,despised a woman who
could not take care of herself" So
much easier is it to preach than prac-
tice.
The girls were delighted, and showed
their joy by first hugging Jack and
then Miss Carlton, winding up with a
modest petition to the former happy
parsonage for more chocolate cream"
which was so abundantly answered
that they were in state of bliss for
hours. They gave Jack up readily,
only pleading for the uncle, who had
been q skeleton at the feast for SO long,
protesting that they must have some
body to love, now that dear old John
was to be taken from them, and with
groans and laments of most woeful
grief they consigned him to the care OF
Miss Carlton, who insisted that they
only wanted to get rid Of him so they
might bewitch another. But Jack only
and said: II told you I'd
marry the first woman who travelled
without bushel of baggage, and I am
going to"
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Her Standard.